Helleborus plant named ‘Cinderella’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Helleborus  plant named ‘Cinderella’, characterized by its upright to outwardly arching plant habit; freely flowering habit; semi-double flowers that are greenish white in color with greyed purple-colored spots; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Helleborus orientalis hybrid.

Cultivar denomination: ‘CINDERELLA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHelleborus plant, botanically known as Helleborus orientalis hybrid, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Cinderella’.

The new Helleborus plant is a product of a planned breeding program inBuitenpost, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program wasto create new double-type Helleborus cultivars with attractive leaf andflower coloration.

The new Helleborus plant originated from a cross-pollination conductedby the Inventor in Buitenpost, The Netherlands in February, 2003 of twounnamed proprietary seedling selections of Helleborus orientalis hybrid,not patented. The new Helleborus plant was discovered and selected bythe Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment inBuitenpost, The Netherlands in March, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Helleborus plant by tissue culture in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands sinceMarch, 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Helleborusplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Helleborus have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Cinderella’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Cinderella’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofHelleborus:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly arching plant habit.    -   2. Freely flowering habit.    -   3. Semi-double flowers that are greenish white in color with        greyed purple-colored spots.    -   4. Good garden performance.

Compared to plants of the parent selections, plants of the newHelleborus are more uniform and more freely flowering.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborusorientalis hybrid ‘HLR 160’, disclosed in an U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,504.Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘HLR 160’in flower form as plants of ‘HLR 160’ have single-type flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Helleborus plant, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Helleborus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Cinderella’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical flower of ‘Cinderella’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view oftypical leaves of ‘Cinderella’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Zevenbergen, The Netherlands in1.5-liter containers during the winter in a glass-covered greenhouse andunder conditions which closely approximate commercial Helleborusproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom 5° C. to 20° C. and night temperatures ranged from 1° C. to 15° C.Plants were one year old when the photographs and the description weretaken. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Helleborus orientalis hybrid ‘Cinderella’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary seedling            selection of Helleborus orientalis hybrid, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary seedling            selection of Helleborus orientalis hybrid, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By tissue culture.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About ten days at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About two months at            12° C. to 20° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; light brown in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Low branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright            to outwardly arching plant habit; moderately vigorous growth            habit.        -   Plant height.—About 40 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 39.4 cm.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Palmately compound with five leaflets per leaf.        -   Leaf length.—About 12.9 cm.        -   Leaf width.—About 17.1 cm.        -   Leaflet length.—About 8.2 cm.        -   Leaflet width.—About 4.3 cm.        -   Leaf shape.—Palmate; orbicular in outline.        -   Leaflet shape.—Obovate; lowest leaflets cleft.        -   Leaflet apex.—Acute.        -   Leaflet base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaflet margin.—Sharply serrate.        -   Leaflet texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            leathery.        -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to            143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Between 143B and            144A. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A;            venation, close to 144A to 144B. Fully developed leaves,            lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 143C.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 14.2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143A to 144B; towards the            base, tinged with close to 183C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower shape and habit.—Semi-double rotate flowers; freely            flowering habit with about five flowers per terminal            cluster; petals not observed.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower during the late            winter in The Netherlands; plants begin flowering about ten            months after planting.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About twelve days; flowers            not persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 cm.            Shape: Ovate. Color: Close to 157A; towards the base, close            to 145A to 145B.        -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 5.7 cm. Depth (height): About 2.6            cm.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: About five in a single whorl. Length:            About 3.4 cm. Width: About 3.1 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate to            orbicular. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Close to 157D; towards the base, close to 144C;            spots, close to 187B to 187C. When opening, lower surface:            Between 145D and 157A; towards the base, close to 144A to            144B. Fully opened, upper surface: Between NN155B and 157D;            towards the base, close to 145B to 145C; spots, close to            187C. Fully opened, lower surface: Between 145D and 157A;            towards the base, close to 144A to 144B.        -   Sepaloids.—Arrangement: About 17 in about two whorls.            Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 1.6 cm. Shape: Rhomboidal.            Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Close to 157D; towards the base, close to 144C;            spots, close to 187B to 187C. When opening, lower surface:            Between 145D and 157A; towards the base, close to 144A to            144B. Fully opened, upper surface: Between NN155C and 157D;            towards the base, close to 145C to 145D; spots, close to            187C. Fully opened, lower surface: Between 145D and 157A;            towards the base, close to 144A to 144B.        -   Peduncles.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: About 31 cm.            Diameter: About 6 mm. Aspect: About 10° from vertical.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A slightly            tinged with close to 176C to 176D.        -   Pedicels.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: About 2.2 cm.            Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Aspect: Mostly erect. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144C to 144D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 80.            Filament length: About 1.1 cm. Filament color: Close to            155D. Anther shape: Reniform. Anther length: About 3 mm.            Anther color: Close to 157B to 157C. Pollen amount: Scarce.            Pollen color: Close to 155A to 155B. Pistils: Quantity per            flower: About four. Pistil length: About 1.5 cm. Stigma            shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 157D. Style            length: About 1.4 cm. Style color: Close to 145A; towards            the base, close to 182B. Ovary color: Close to 150B.        -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Helleborus have been observed    to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain and wind.    Plants of the new Helleborus have been observed to tolerate high    temperatures of about 35° C. and are hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 5.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Helleborus have not been    shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Helleborus.

1. A new and distinct Helleborus plant named ‘Cinderella’ as illustrated and described. 